Hi All!

Kudos to everyone who pieces and long-arms Quilts of Valor for our service members.

Let's remember -- They are not charity quilts. These quilts are to recognize service to our country and acknowledge the sacrifices of our service people. As a quilter and citizen, I am honored to use my best fabrics and skills for these quilts.

Amen! I agree wholeheartedly! It's not only an honor....it's a privilege!

Would we not also use and do our best on charity quilts as well?

:thumbup: :thumbup:

I do QOV quilts myself. I piece and longarm. I make sure that somewhere on the quilt is the month and year of the quilt. I also quilt in a block "Thank you for your sacrifice." But I do not put my name on them anywhere.

I don't make QoV quilts but I donate money for supplies to several I know who does make them and they make them extra nice.

yes.

My thoughts exactly!! :thumbup:

Amen!

Maybe I missed the point??? I dont get it.

I think I did too. What exactly are you saying?

One would hope so...

Not to stir up a hornets nest but I have seen many, many posts here where posters write about needing an inexpensive source for fabric because they do so many charity quilts. Statements like this usually show up on endless threads about walmart and joanne quality fabric vs LQS quality fabric. I believe it may be these kind of posts that prompted the statement. QOV criteria is pretty stringent and I have seen a few posts complaining about that as well, such as insisting QOV quilts be longarmed as opposed to handquilted or machine quilted on a DSM, although most longarmers who do them donate their services as well.

If I received quilt that was hand quilted, I would think I was in hog heaven. Don't get me wrong, longarmed quilts are beautiful, but there is something about hand quilting that is amazing. As long as the quilts are good quality & good workmanship, I can't believe they wouldn't want them. Our servicemen do deserve the best we can give.

That doesn't make sense to me either. I have seen some mediocre LA quilting and some beautiful quilting done by hand or on a regular machine. Yes, there are some absolutely phenomenal long-armers out there, but LA doesn't automatically equate to better - it certainly wouldn't if I were to attempt it right now, lol. I wonder what the thinking is on this?

So let me get this, if I send non-LQS fabric in (that I have spent my hard earned money on) or I VOLUNTEER my time to quilt one of these QOV's that's not good enough to show my appreciation. Well then I guess put me down as a non-patroitic.

Whoa! slow down! My only point was that they shouldn't be called "charity" quilts because their purpose is to acknowledge and honor service in the best way we know how -- with an heirloom-quality quilt!
…And I'm not demeaning charity quilts at all! I LOVE making children's quilts and if I didn’t have ways to donate them, I’d be very disappointed.
…And I’m not berating Wal-mart or Joanne’s! I was saddened when my Wal-mart closed their fabric department!

QoVF quilts don't HAVE to be long-armed. Many people prefer not to quilt their quilt on their smaller machines, so Catherine has arranged for longarmers to be available. June coordinates them.

the definition of "charity" is

Charity, the practice of benevolent giving,


how are QOV not charity - the person who made them was in the practice of benevolent giving.

Exactly. I don't know why the word charity has a negative connotation.

It seems to me that both QOV and charity quilts are gifts expressing love - where they differ is that QOV quilts are also given to honor and thank, whereas charity quilts not so much.

I agree wholeheartedly. What about the old addage, "Charity begins at home". Is that insulting? When I see someone saying they made a "charity" quilt I am immediately impressed that they made time from their life to give to someone they don't know but wants them to enjoy what God has given us so generously (our talent of sewing). I don't care whether its Quilts of Valor, or Quilts for Kids, or Linus, or any other "charities" they all deserve our thanks in any way we are able to give it. Be it sewing or money.

i'm not sure where is says QOV US quilts must be longarmed. i've sent quilts that i completed start to binding finish - and i don't have a longarm. did my quilt not get to a soldier?

so quilts given to hospice care aren't done in honor of the older generation and to thank them for being a valued member of society?

it does have to do with durability also...most hand quilted quilts are kind of considered heirlooms, not meant to be used and abused and thrown in the washer & dryer...the quilts these service people receive get used! so the concensus is machine piece and quilt them so they will hold up. not that hand quilting doesn't hold up but that it will get abused more than it should. (the recipient may be reluctant to accept the quilt if they think it has to be protected and gently used)
as for the quality of fabric.... there are plenty of people who go find the $1 a yard 'stuff' to make quilts they are going to donate to different places, they seem to feel that if they are giving it away they should not put alot into it.
and there are plenty of people who just do not know any difference in fabric quality. then there are those who mean well and want to do something but simply can not afford more expensive fabrics...
all of that taken into consideration....you can 'shop' at thrift stores, buy good quality 100% cotton clothes in a vast color/print selection, cut the clothes up and make nice quilts with quality fabric alot cheaper than buying yardage. there are lots of ways to save without settling for less quality. i tend to be opposite from alot...when i am making a donation quilt i use the most expensive everything i can afford. even expensive batts....if i am going to cut any corners it's going to be on one of the kids play quilts that take a beating then get replaced when it's time. since i've been sewing for over 40+ years i can easily tell by touch if it's something worthy of my attention. if it's not, i don't waste any money on it...$1 a yard is not a good deal if the fabric is garbage. it is only a good deal if it is good quality.

The QoVF website does specify new fabric and good quality 100% cotton. Being on the receiving end of quilts for children, sadly, yes, there are quilts that have been made or handed down that give the impression of just being a give-away. Coordinating receipt of donations for charity (fire victims, abused children), the "gifts" are sometimes worn out items that the owner has had their use of, and no longer want. What makes them think anyone else would want the used, worn out item!
I have read in the newsletter where a longarmer quit because of the lack of quality of the tops (seams coming apart, sewn so off-square or puckered that she really couldn't quilt it, fabric very thin or worn). I also often hear someone say they have gotten a new machine and will practice their quilting on the donated quilt. It may be their best effort, but the quilting may not appear so.
The main thing is that the quilts we make come from the heart. Machine quilted, hand quilted - it is within an association's mandate to specify a quality level and trust we will strive to reach it. Insulting as it may seem to us who always put our best efforts into thing, some people need to be reminded.

Thank you MagicGadget for all your insight and info! And a warm welcome to the board! (karren)

I did not think you were implying that charity quilts weren't well made.
I believed your statement to mean you did not want Quilts of Valor to be considered works of charity.

[quote=Cat18]"Hi All!
Kudos to everyone who pieces and long-arms Quilts of Valor for our service members.
Let's remember -- They are not charity quilts. These quilts are to recognize service to our country and acknowledge the sacrifices of our service people. As a quilter and citizen, I am honored to use my best fabrics and skills for these quilts.[/quote" Posted earlier by Cat 18

Your point is quite clearly stated. It's sad that a thoughtful statement, such as yours, will draw hostile comments. A thought worth remembering when responding to statements and questions posted on this forum: Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I'm just now seeing this thread so I haven't read through all of the responses.

I personally don't like the term "charity quilt" so I prefer to refer to them as "Comfort Quilts". :)

Sigh.......AS a quilter I use my best quality and skills for all my charity quilts. Not just because of who gets them. And my DH and both DS's served in the military. "Charity" is a misgiving word. All of our project linus quilts go to children in crisis or are ill, they could be from rich families or poor. No distinction.
I am very proud of those who serve our country now and proudly give my quilts to them.

1. No matter who you hope will receive the quilt(s) you make, they should be made with as much care, skill and quality as your talents permit. The materials used should be of the same caliber you'd use if you were making the quilt for any member of your family. You should never give away anything you wouldn't consider good enough to use in your own house. You should not use benevolent organizations as dumping grounds for quilts you consider in any way substandard.

2. QOV is a fantastic organization and i admire everyone involved here and in Canada. however, QOV is only one of many pipelines through which you can give quilts you've made for the men and women who serve our countries and preserve our freedom. A hand-pieced and/or hand-quilted quilt can be every bit as durable as one done by machine if it's made properly. If your preferred method does not fit into the QOV rules, but does result in a well-constructed, attractive quilt that will stand the test of use and washing, present your gift through a different organization. Better yet make one quilt to donate where you prefer AND ALSO send a check to QOV for whatever it cost you.

3. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines who receive the quilts don't know whether you call them "charity", "comfort", "Horace", or "Jill." they know only that somebody out there appreciates them as human beings, recognizes their sacrifice, and is grateful to them for being who they are and for doing what they do. therefore, any question and argument over the semantics is absurd.

now, if you'll excuse me, i have a pile of Irvings to finish.

back to the fun, please!

[quote=Bobby's Girl]Why don't you take your own advice and be kinder and less patronizing? What I have learned from this thread is that 1) some people hear charity as meaning looking down on the recipient ( including, by implication if not explicitly, the original poster 2) some people are offended at that use of the word charity 3) lots of people feel service personnel are the 'top of the heap' in terms of how much you should put into their quilts- some people hear this as having to spend more than they can afford, and they are offended by that, even if that is not the message that was intended 4) some people feel that any recipient of a gift quilt deserves our best and the distinction between service personnel and others is disrespectful to those people. No surprise at all that heckles are up- it is disingenuous to pretend otherwise.

both perspectives are of equal merit and value. both result in quilters inspired to give of themselves from the heart.

the opinions are not the problem. the arguement is the problem.

it wastes precious time and brain cells.

if we focus our energies on the quilts and their recipients instead of which words to use, or on deciding who rides the higher horse, we'll get a lot more done for those who deserve the results of our efforts.